Press and Media Officer (opens in a new window)

Catorfaen; Chesterfield; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Cycle to Work Scheme

Paid out-of-hours rota

Job summary

East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) is seeking a Press and Media Officer to manage media activity for the East Midlands region. You will translate complex policy into clear stories, build strong relationships with journalists and deliver timely communications for EMCCA and the Mayor.

This fast-paced role requires travel across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, participa­tion in out-of-hours rota, and a proactive approach to safeguarding EMCCA’s reputation in a dynamic media landscape.

Qualifications

• Strong press office or media-handling experience.
• Excellent writing skills for releases, statements and social content.
• Strong news judgement and reputational awareness.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities under pressure.
• Understanding of political/public policy landscape desirable.

Responsibilities

• Deliver proactive and reactive press and media activity for EMCCA and the Mayor.
• Develop relationships with journalists across media.
• Identify news opportunities and turn priorities into compelling stories.
• Write press releases, statements and social content for diverse audiences.
• Coordinate media activity around interviews, announcements and events.
• Provide media advice to senior colleagues and Mayoral Office.
• Travel regularly across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire for media activity.

Skills

Press office

Media-handling

News judgement

Writing skills

Stakeholder relations

Deadline-driven

Education

Degree in communications/PR/journalism/English

Job description

We are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK at the time of application.

Press andMedia Officer

Salary: £40,444 – £45,529
Directorate: Communications
Grade: F15
Location: Chesterfield with regional East Midlands travel
Contract: Permanent

About therole

We are lookingfor an experienced and highly motivated Press and Media Officer to join ourbusy Communications team and help shape the daily news agenda for the EastMidlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) and the Mayor of the East Midlands.

This is afast-paced role for someone who understands the media, has excellent newsjudgement and knows how to turn complex issues, policies and programmes intoclear, compelling stories.

You will play acentral role in delivering both proactive and reactive media activity, buildingstrong relationships with journalists and ensuring EMCCA and the Mayor arerepresented clearly, accurately and effectively across local, regional andnational media.

Fromidentifying opportunities to showcase the impact of our work, to respondingquickly and confidently to breaking news and media enquiries, you will helpraise the profile of the Mayor, EMCCA and the East Midlands region.

You will alsoprovide trusted media advice to senior colleagues and the Mayoral Office,helping to identify opportunities, anticipate reputational risks and ensuretimely, consistent communications in a rapidly changing media and politicalenvironment.

As aregional press and media role, you will need to travel regularly acrossDerbyshire and Nottinghamshire. You will also be expected to participate in theemergency out-of-hours communications rota, which will involve some evening andweekend working. Out-of-hours rota work is paid.

What you'llbe doing

You will:

• Deliver proactive and reactivepress and media activity for EMCCA and the Mayor of the East Midlands.
• Develop and maintain strong,professional relationships with journalists across local, regional andnational media.
• Identify opportunities to turnEMCCA and Mayoral priorities, programmes and achievements into compellingnews stories.
• Write high-quality press releases,media statements, briefings, social media content and opinion pieces for arange of audiences.
• Respond confidently and accuratelyto media enquiries, often working to tight deadlines.
• Monitor the news, media andpolitical landscape to identify emerging issues, opportunities andpotential reputational risks.
• Provide timely, clear andwell-informed media advice to senior colleagues and the Mayoral Office.
• Help shape the daily news agendaand develop proactive media opportunities that demonstrate the impact ofEMCCA's work across the region.
• Facilitate press conferences andcoordinate media activity around interviews, announcements and events.
• Support journalists and managemedia during interviews with the Mayor and other senior spokespeople.
• Work closely with colleagues acrossCommunications, Marketing and the wider organisation to develop integratedcommunications activity.
• Integrate PR and social mediaactivity to maximise the reach and impact of key announcements andcampaigns.
• Monitor and evaluate media coverageand communications activity, using insight to improve future mediaapproaches.
• Contribute to protecting andenhancing the reputation of EMCCA and the Mayor through accurate, timelyand consistent communications.
• Travel regularly across Derbyshireand Nottinghamshire to support media activity, interviews, announcements,events and other communications activity across the EMCCA region.
• Participate in the emergencyout-of-hours communications rota. This will involve some evening andweekend working when required, with out-of-hours rota work paid.

About you

We're lookingfor an experienced press and media professional who thrives in a fast-movingenvironment and understands what makes a story work.

You will havestrong press office, media-handling or news environment experience and becomfortable managing multiple priorities, responding to enquiries anddelivering accurate work under pressure.

You'll haveexcellent writing skills and the ability to adapt your style for differentaudiences and channels. Whether you're writing a press release, drafting astatement, preparing an opinion piece or creating social media content, you'llknow how to communicate complex issues clearly, accurately and compellingly.

Mostimportantly, you'll have strong news judgement and reputational awareness.You'll be able to spot a good story, anticipate where issues may develop,identify potential risks and provide calm, timely and practical advice tosenior colleagues.

• Strong press office andmedia-handling experience, ideally within a fast-paced press office,agency, newsroom or similar environment.
• Excellent writing and communicationskills, with the ability to produce clear, compelling press releases,statements, social media content and opinion pieces.
• Strong news judgement, with theability to identify stories, generate media opportunities and understandwhat will resonate with different audiences.
• The ability to manage proactive andreactive media activity, often working to tight deadlines and respondingquickly to changing circumstances.
• Strong reputational awareness andthe ability to identify emerging issues, opportunities and potentialrisks.
• Experience providing media adviceto senior colleagues or organisational leaders.
• The ability to turn organisationalpriorities and activity into relevant, engaging stories that can secureimpactful coverage.
• Excellent organisational skills andthe ability to manage competing priorities in a high-pressure environment.
• A good understanding of the 24/7news cycle and the demands of modern media.
• Experience of integrating PR andsocial media, including creating content for digital channels.
• A collaborative approach and theconfidence to build effective relationships with journalists, colleagues,partners and senior stakeholders.
• The flexibility to travel regularlyacross Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire and to participate in the emergencyout-of-hours communications rota, including some evening and weekendworking.

You will have adegree in communications, public relations, journalism, media, English or arelated subject, or equivalent relevant professional experience.

Anunderstanding of the political and public policy landscape would be desirable.

A valid UKdriving licence and access to a vehicle would also be desirable.

Your impact

This is morethan a traditional press office role. You'll have the opportunity to help shapehow a new and ambitious regional organisation communicates its priorities,achievements and impact.

You will play akey part in ensuring the work of EMCCA and the Mayor reaches the people whomatter, from communities and businesses across the East Midlands tojournalists, partners and national audiences.

You'll bejoining at an exciting time as EMCCA develops its role across the region, withsignificant opportunities to tell stories about investment, jobs, skills,transport, economic growth and the future of the East Midlands.

Our values

We arecommitted to creating a region that is more prosperous, sustainable and fairer,helping our people and businesses to create and seize opportunities.

Our valuesunderpin how we work:

Lifting ourregion

We put widerregional outcomes at the heart of what we do and act as passionate advocatesfor our place, programmes and priorities.

Workingtogether

We build strongrelationships, bring people together and provide constructive challenge toachieve better outcomes.

Making animpact

We turn ideasinto action, focus on outcomes and look for opportunities to create lastingimprovements.

Being human

We valuedifferent perspectives, connect authentically with people and recognise theimportance of putting people at the centre of what we do.

You'll bejoining a growing Communications team at an exciting stage in the developmentof EMCCA and the East Midlands Mayor's profile.

You'll have theopportunity to work on high-profile regional issues, build relationships with awide range of media organisations and help shape the public conversation aroundthe future of the East Midlands.

If you're anexperienced press and media professional with excellent writing skills, strongnews judgement and the ability to deliver under pressure, this is anopportunity to make a real impact.

Closingdate: 12/10/2026
Interview date: 20/10/2026

Please note: This is a politically restricted postunder the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, as amended. The postholderwill be subject to the restrictions associated with politically restrictedposts.

• Up to 10 days paid leave in a 12-month period for caring responsibilities
• A hybrid work model with remote working opportunities
• Maternity, Paternity, IVF, Adopters and Foster Carers support
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• 30 days holiday (plus 2 with continuous service) + bank holidays + your birthday (up to five extra days through salary sacrifice)